Suwannee Regional Library receives $6,000 grant

Through Florida Humanities’ America 250 Book Collection Grants initiative, public libraries across the state are receiving funding to enhance their collections with books that explore the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the American experience.

Live Oak, Florida (July 2026) —Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has awarded the Suwannee River Regional Library (SRRL) System $6000 to expand its circulating collection with more than 60 new titles that encourage readers to reflect on America’s past, present, and future as we celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

     Through Florida Humanities’ America 250 Book Collection Grants initiative, public libraries across the state are receiving funding to enhance their collections with books that explore the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the American experience. Participating libraries will also receive materials to create America 250-themed displays featuring recommended reading lists for both youth and adult audiences, helping to spark meaningful community conversations across the nation’s semi-quincentennial.

     The Director of (SRRL) Libraries, Betty Lawrence, shares, “Receiving the Florida Humanities America 250 grant provides the opportunity for our libraries to present a glimpse of America’s rich and varied history for citizens of all ages.”

     Through this grant, the SRRL will be able to purchase over 245 new books in print, eBook, and digital audiobook formats.

     “Public libraries are vital spaces for democracy in our nation, providing community members of all ages with access to a wealth of knowledge,” said Florida Humanities Associate Director Patricia Putman.    “Florida Humanities is thrilled to support these American institutions by providing them the resources they need to expand and enhance their collections just in time for our nation’s semi-quincentennial.”

     In total, Florida Humanities awarded more than $78,000 to 23 libraries and library systems statewide, supporting the purchase of more than 4,000 books in communities across 25 Florida counties. From the Panhandle to South Florida, these collections will provide library visitors with new opportunities to engage with our nation’s 250-year journey while inspiring the next chapter of our country.